Happy Year of the Tiger! We spent yesterday exploring New York's Chinatown on the lower east side of Manhattan, which was elaborately decorated for the celebration of the lunar new year and the entrance of the year of the tiger.We wove our way though the crowded streets, ducked into little shops, ate yummy noodles and soup for lunch and came home with bags of treasures!

When we returned home I let the kids lead the way with the decorating. Banners were put up on bedroom doors, lanterns were hung from shelves and ceilings. The lanterns were our absolute favorites with such festive colors (I am starting to feel ideas forming for Carys's approaching birthday party theme...I can see these lanterns everywhere!)